Daniel Suárez hopes for a winning day in the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
The second half of the NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off at one of the biggest unknowns – the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Sure, the 1.54-mile quad oval got a nice makeover in terms of fresh blacktop and pavement markers. However, she’s not the same Atlanta Motor Speedway we’ve known for the past 25 years.
Four months ago, the new era of Atlanta Motor Speedway racing kicked off with a hybrid style of competition. Yes, handling was pivotal for the field but so were raw speed and courage, particularly in the large packs.
Although Kurt Busch enters Sunday’s race as the defending winner, perhaps the focus needs to be on the likes of William Byron, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. Consider the drivers who typically excel at superspeedways while holding a pretty wheel at the intermediates.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Michelle Raynor, Nathan Solomon, Taylor Kitchen and yours truly put on their thinking caps to consider the prospects of another first time Cup winner and those sweating it out in the summer months.
Podium Preview: Quaker State 400 at Atlanta
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Question 1
Ross Chastain hopes for another great day at Atlanta. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
As Tyler Reddick finally tallied his maiden Cup win, will we see another first time Cup winner especially with how unpredictable Atlanta is with its reconfiguration?
Tiongson : This is a tough one despite superspeedway style racing lending itself to making all things somewhat equal for the top and midfield teams. We’ve essentially checked off on all the drivers who we’ve waited on for their first wins. As for drivers who’ve not won a Cup race leading up to this weekend, we’re looking at drivers like Ty Dillon, Landon Cassill, Todd Gilliland and Harrison Burton.
Dillon, Gilliland and Burton have to be licking their chops for this weekend. Dillon’s been a decent superspeedway racer and Gilliland’s Front Row Motorsports organization has seen its stock rise in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Burton needs a boost to a tough rookie season and there’s no other time like the present to turn things around.
While I don’t foresee another first time Cup winner, it’d be something if Cassill, Dillon, Burton or Gilliland emerge victorious on Sunday afternoon.
Solomon : I’m not sure if we’ll see a first-time winner on Sunday, but I think we could at least see another new winner this season. Michael McDowell, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney are all strong superspeedway racers and Atlanta fits that. Wallace was in contention in the spring race and won Talladega last fall. Blaney has multiple superspeedway victories, and most notably, McDowell won the Daytona 500 last season. Expect all three to contend for a win on Sunday.
Lambeth : Based on what we witnessed in yesterday’s Xfinity race, the track is significantly different compared to the spring race on the new Atlanta. In the spring, we saw a larger pack drafting around the 28 degrees of banking on the 1.5-mile oval. With warmer temperatures in the heat of summer, handling was a major factor yesterday. Therefore, the cars were spread out more into smaller packs, similar to old school superspeedway races at Daytona and Talladega.
Due to this factor, I believe the chances of seeing another first-time Cup winner is slim this weekend. Instead, in a season of high parity, I’m predicting we’ll see a driver reach three wins for the first time in 2022 and put themselves at the top of the playoff grid!
Kitchen : There are very few drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series field that have yet to win a race. As Rob Tiongson mentioned in his response, there are four drivers that need to take the checkered flag to be a winner.
Personally, I do not see any of those drivers winning, but stranger things have happened.
However, I do agree with Nathan Solomon in his comments that we might see someone capture their first win of 2022, but not their careers.
Question 2
Might we see the likes of Aric Almirola, Bubba Wallace or Erik Jones win at Atlanta? (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Considering those who’ve not won a race this year, which driver seems in the most precarious spot from now until the checkered flag at Daytona in August?
Shoppe : There’s still quite a few people that can get that first win of the year before the playoffs. Ryan Blaney is on top of that list with his impressive consistent season. Veterans like Martin Truex Jr and Kevin Harvick can still win as well. Bubba Wallace could be in the conversation here at Atlanta today too. So, if you haven’t won yet, a playoff spot is certainly not guaranteed.
Sisoler : A lot of drivers are in danger the closer we get to the playoffs starting. Kevin Harvick has to be at the forefront of that group for me. While he has some good runs to his name, I think that the 4 car needs to get a win to get in, especially with Atlanta’s superspeedway configuration opening up the list of potential first-time winners this season.
Raynor : There are quite a few drivers who are in the most precarious spot at the moment. I would say Kevin Harvick is a standout to me. The beginning of the year they were slow and never in contention to win, but as the season has progressed, they have produced a few good finishes. I don’t think it will be enough to make the playoffs. He’s going to need to produce a win.
Sharpe : Whew, in a season that has proven to be full of uncertainty and unpredictability, it seems a couple of drivers could be in a precarious situation. Erik Jones, Kevin Harvick, and Michael McDowell pop into my head. Each has had moments this season that show their talent and hard work, but without a win, their chances of being in the playoffs are becoming slim.
Lady Luck may need to barter with this trio if any of them want a chance to stay on top of the others seeking a spot.
Hold onto your hats after two fast laps at Atlanta! Right now, it’s rewind time as we consider the race and points reports from last Sunday’s Kwik Trip 250 at Road America, round 18 of 36 of the NASCAR Cup Series season!
It was a decent points day for the panelists at Road America.
Likewise, the points battle’s steady.
Next, let’s consider the top 10 starters for Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta!
Row 1
Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain (Photo: Riley Thompson)
Row 2
Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
Daniel Suárez and Alex Bowman (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
Last but not least, here’s our picks for Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta!
It’s anyone’s guess for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta. (Photo: Riley Thompson and Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Raynor : Ross Chastain came close to winning in March and knows how to get around this track.
Shoppe : Now that Atlanta is a superspeedway type race, I’ll go with Denny Hamlin. He is great at putting himself in a good position late in the race.
Lambeth : We’ve seen an incredible amount of parity during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season so far. While many are speculating that we could see our 14th different winner this weekend, I think we’ll see one driver become the first competitor to reach three wins this year. Driving a Coca-Cola sponsored car in the soft drink company’s backyard, Denny Hamlin will put his superspeedway skills to the test and get the job done on a hot day in Atlanta!
Sharpe : Chris Buescher, the RFK driver, has proven to be a hidden weapon this season, able to creep up into the top of field and snag spots with confidence. He’s proven to be great at speedways and Atlanta is the perfect place shine.
Sisoler : The first time we were at the new superspeedway version of Atlanta, William Byron picked up the victory. This time around, I’m saying another Hendrick Camaro will grab the win, as it will be, to borrow some of Mike Joy’s commentary from years ago, Engine, Engine Number 9, bringing it to the finish line, Chase Elliott, that will take the win in front of his home state crowd.
Solomon : Ryan Blaney is extremely due for a win in 2022. He’s second in points and regularly in contention. He just hasn’t snagged that first victory yet. Blaney is a strong superspeedway racer and also won at Atlanta in the old configuration, for what it’s worth. Expect Blaney to snag a victory on Sunday.
Kitchen : Ryan Blaney was incredibly close to winning this year’s Daytona 500. He also had a shot to win at Atlanta earlier in the spring. With that said, his superspeedway-savvy driving is going to be what takes him to victory lane on Sunday.
Tiongson : If this driver can win Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta, it’ll give Ford some confidence in their fight against Chevy’s Chase Elliott. Look for Ryan Blaney to win Sunday’s race at Atlanta.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week! While we progress toward a new kind of normal, please do your part to curb the impacts of the pandemic by washing your hands and getting your COVID-19 vaccine or booster.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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